Wrap It Up

Like all good things, the Best of Las Vegas readers' poll must come to an end, and the beginning of the end starts today (we've always wanted to say that).

For those of you who have been scribbling away on ballots from the newspaper or pounding the computer keyboard on ballots at www.lvrj.com/bestoflv, this is the home stretch, featuring Best Shopping, Best Sports Spots, Best People and the fan favorite Best of the Worst.

(Anyone still working on the second ballot, which includes Best Hotels and Best Entertainment, has until 5 p.m. Monday to have their voices heard. All voting for the first ballot on Best Eat and Drink and Best Locations has ended.)

If none of this makes any sense, then you're a newbie, but there's still time to get in the game and maybe win some prizes.

Let's take a minute to review. The Best of Las Vegas ballot appears three times during three weeks -- as well as online -- to give readers every possible opportunity and encouragement to participate. We really, really want to hear from you. Our mothers long for such attention.

We started the process on Jan. 10 and it will end on Feb. 1.

People can vote only once in each of the categories, so those who started on Jan. 10 will have three ballots submitted by the end. Those of you who came in late cannot catch up by submitting repeat ballots. We repeat, no repeats. (Stuffers are stuffed in the nearest wastebasket.)

We also accept only official newspaper or online ballots, there simply are no substitutes. While this isn't a scientific exercise, we like to keep things fair in our own little corner of the world -- and doesn't everyone want that? Find an official ballot on Pages 6 and 7. The ballot will repeat on Monday and Thursday. Online ballots are available throughout each voting period.

Best Shopping boasts 33 subcategories, from Best Arts and Crafts Store to Best Liquor or Wine Store, Best Designer Boutique to Best Swap Meet, Best Gardening Store to Best Video Store. We have Best Adult Store, Best Tobacco Store, even Best Souvenir. If you can't find something to vote for here, you're either a hermit or your wife does all the shopping.

Few categories thrill the hearts of those of us at Best of Las Vegas Central more than Best People, which offers the challenge of 19 decisions, such as Best Celebrity Tourist, Best Community Organization and Most Colorful Character. We expect Favorite Dead Las Vegan to be especially tough this year because we lost several outstanding citizens in 2009.

Best Sports Spots is a mean, lean category of six choices, including Best Golf Course and Best Place to Ride a Bike.

Saving the best fun for last is the Best of the Worst, where voters can sound off on 14 subcategories featuring the agencies, officials, snobs and other irritations that mar our lives.

Thus informed and prepared, it's time to vote! Mail your ballots to Best of Las Vegas, Las Vegas Review-Journal, P.O. Box 70, Las Vegas, NV 89125 or go online at www.lvrj.com/bestoflv. The deadline is 5 p.m. Feb. 1.

Lest you need further incentive to carry on or are trying to decide whether to start, here's a recap of our fabulous prizes: two tickets to see the Best All-Around Performer; two tickets for the Best Show; dinner for two at the Best Gourmet Restaurant in a hotel; dinner for two in the Best Gourmet Restaurant not in a hotel; lunch for two at the Best Place for a Power Lunch; a gift certificate to the Best Mall; and a grand prize of a night on the town, including dinner, a show and an overnight stay at a local hotel.

The results of all your hard work will appear in the Review-Journal and its Web site on March 28.